The Mac Mini with 16GB of unified memory and 256GB of storage starts at $799. The GMKtec G3 Pro mini PC has 16GB of DDR4 RAM in dual channel and a 512GB SSD, and Amazon currently has it at $289, down from its regular $459, which is roughly a third of what Apple charges for less storage in a comparable form factor. The Mac Mini runs Apple Silicon and macOS, which are genuine advantages for the right user. For everyone running Windows, Linux, or a homelab setup, the G3 Pro at this price makes the comparison uncomfortable for Apple.
A full Windows 11 Pro desktop in a 5-inch cube
The Intel Core i3-10110U boosts to 4.1GHz with Hyper-Threading across two cores and four threads, which handles web browsing, office applications, video streaming, light photo editing, and multitasking without the slowdown that lower-clocked budget processors introduce. The 16GB of DDR4 RAM in dual-channel configuration is double what the previous G3 Pro model shipped with, which keeps multiple applications open simultaneously without memory pressure. The 512GB M.2 SSD handles fast boot times and responsive file access, and a secondary M.2 2280 NVMe slot allows storage expansion without replacing the primary drive.
Two HDMI 2.0 ports output to two 4K displays simultaneously at 60Hz, which sets up a dual-monitor workstation from a unit that fits behind a monitor on a VESA mount. Four USB 3.2 ports at up to 5Gbps each handle peripherals without a hub, and the Intel i226 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet delivers network speeds 2.5 times faster than standard Gigabit, which matters for NAS access, large file transfers, and server use cases where network bandwidth is the bottleneck. WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 cover wireless connectivity, and Wake On LAN, PXE Boot, RTC Wake, and Auto Power On make the G3 Pro viable as an always-on home server or firewall without manual intervention.
Windows 11 Pro comes pre-installed, and compatibility with Linux, Proxmox, Ubuntu, and VMware ESXi covers homelab and virtualization use cases that the Mac Mini does not handle without additional configuration.
This is the upgraded version of the GMKtec G3 Pro we covered earlier at $259 with 8GB of RAM. The 16GB dual-channel configuration at $289 adds meaningful multitasking headroom for $30 more, which makes it the stronger choice for anyone running more than a handful of applications simultaneously. With the same dual 4K output, 2.5GbE networking, and compact footprint, the upgrade is straightforward. At $289 for a 16GB, 512GB Windows 11 Pro mini PC with dual 4K displays and gigabit-plus networking, the Mac Mini comparison writes itself.
